Thursday, January 29, 2009

Aston Martin on the prowl

While many had been holding out hope that Aston Martin’s current head honcho David Richards would indeed purchase the assets of the declining Honda F1 operation... Richards has decided that in this continuing global economic crisis that he will instead focus his company’s efforts upon a return to Circuit de la Sarthe this June instead, as Aston Martin will build a brand new LMP1 V-12 petrol powered challenger to go head to head with Audi’s R15TDI’s and Peugeot’s AP908’s turbo diesel’s in this summer’s 24 Heurs du Mans Sports car classic.

Aston Martin will return to Le Mans with two striking Gulf Oil livered challengers upon the 50th Anniversary of the firm’s victory in France, when Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori were victorious behind the wheel of a DBR1, as the David Brown Racing entries gave Aston a 1-2 sweep in 1959.

Richards Prodrive organization is no stranger to the top step of the podium at Le Mans, having scored multiple GT class victories, including the last two years with his DBR9 and the step up to the Prototype ranks will be in collaboration with Lola, as plans call for his key driver nucleus to consist of expanding upon the efforts of last year’s Privateer entry campaigned by Charouz Racing System, as Antoin Charouz will join the works efforts, with his 2008 teammates Stefan Mucke and Tomas Enge as co-drivers. Aston will also retain the services of Darren Turner, adding Harold Primat to the mix with a final driver to be named later...